THE N W YORKER evitable, for example, that Lake Powell and Lake Mead will someday he com- pletely filled with silt." "Nonsense, nonsense, complete non- sense. First of all, we will build silt-de- tention dams in the tributaries-in the Paria, in the Little Colorado. And, if necessary, we will build more." "Someday the reservoirs have to fill up, Floyd." "I wouldn't admit that. I wouldn't admi t one inch!" "Someday." "Someday! Yes, in geologic time, maybe. Lake Powell will fill up with silt. I don't know how man) thousands of years from now. By then, people will ha ve figured out alternative sources of water and power That's what 1 say when you start talking ahout the geo- logic ages." Brower then began to delivel a brief lecture on the phenomenon of aggrada- tion-the term for the final insult that follo\vs when a reservoir is full of silt. Aggradation is what happens to the silt that keeps on coming down the river. The silt piles up and, in a kind of re- verse ooze, reaches back upstream many miles, following an inclined plane that rises about eighteen inches per mile-a figure reckoned from the site of the now mud-packed and obsolete dam. Brower was scarcely halfway through sketching that picture when Dominy ended his contributions with a nlonosyllabic remark, walked away, put on his pajamas, delivered to the unlis- tening moon his attack on the space program, and, forgetting Browlx and all the silt of years to come, fell asleep. He sleeps on his back, his feet apart, under the mesas. 5 A.M. The sky is light. rrhe air temperature is eighty degrees. Brower sleeps on his side, his knees drawn up. 7 A.M. Eighty-eight degrees. We will soon be on the river. Dominy is brushing his teeth in the green Colo- rado. Sam Beach, a big, bearded man from White Plains, New York, just walked up to Dominy and said, "I see God has given us good watel here this . " mornIng. "r rh k " D . . d an you, omInr sa1 . And Brower said to Beach, "1 imag- Ine that's the first time you ever heard H . k " 1m spea . And Beach said, "God giveth, and God taketh away." W HAT seemed unimaginable be- side the river in the can} on was that all that wild water had been processed, hke pork slurry in a hot-dog plant, upstream in the lightless pen- stocks of a big dam. Perspective is 59 qugL f!1tum . . , 9 66 THE QUEEN SAWARD TO INDUSTRY BY AI'I'OINTMENT TO H M QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER MAKERS Of WEATHERPftOOf GARMENTS AOUASCUTUM lONOOIl lIMITEO <$' n",>' " ./ ",.,: ,',' =4 '<:'. <:. ,'t * "'" "... "" f ',^, ""... "* n*-"' , 'i' ,,: --... !!t"" ,} " , A: <""'" '" , $I ...... "> 'Z ...", , \ < :iI! i:':...t..... ......-:..: : ... ...:-". $I$> ', ..:.:: *' ... -::." :.:. << 'f ..-.,',:,' " ",.'j ," ->>- 'Wi" :", w (, ^-$< . , *= . ': t: ,. . )o ,.' , :' ., ,': . >'; "* ::..;;. . ,()>' *:: ,."0$ ::. ':4: <J .: <- W.' ',: ,' ", "*- '<< ....., '$0' ':, ....... '.".... ' ' The English don't wait for the rain. Rain or shine choose from Aquascutum's new Spnng collection. Some in showerproofed cottons Some in lightweight Spring cloths But all beautiful, with the perfect cut and styling only Aquascutum give Shown here - Tilford in permanently proofed canvas. About $105 At Aquascutum, 100 Regent Street, London and clever stores throughout the States For the name of your nearest, write or 'phone AQUASCUTUM. 2 East 37th Street. New York 10016. 685-9570